Pages

Duchess of Cambridge in Kate Spade at Foundling Museum

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Yesterday's engagement announcement was certainly exciting, but it is good to get back to the Duchess of Cambridge! Kate is visiting the Foundling Museum in London today, and HRH arrived wearing a dress by Kate Spade. She is carrying her Bayswater clutch in burgundy and wearing Gianvito Rossi heels in a matching hue.

Of course, every royal is being asked thoughts on Harry's happy news. Kate was ready with a warm and friendly answer, one of the rare times she has spoken directly to the press.

“William and I are absolutely thrilled. “It’s such exciting news. “It’s a really happy time for any couple and we wish them all the best and hope they enjoy this happy moment.”

In that department, we should hear this afternoon more details about the wedding including month and venue, perhaps, and maybe even the actual date!

This dress is certainly a win for me. I love the burgundy and pinks, which work so well on Kate, and I love that she is wearing a dress with a bit of an Empire waist-line. Also, anyone notice the buttons are little pearls? So pretty, and so Kate. Most of all, I am happy to see Kate today.

If she's still feeling under the weather - heavy makeup is probably to try to mask her pale skin or other side effects of sickness. The dress and accessories are gorgeous. Wish she would get away from the center part on her hair.

It looks more like a fairly fancy briefcase sort of bag than the usual gym bag type of thing used in the past by assistants. I noted that the woman who greeted Kate also had a bag under her arm. I think the bag lady may be part of the welcoming crew. I didn't spot Ms. Quinn at the Palladium engagement. Doesn't mean she wasn't there. She seems adept at keeping out of the spotlight. Surely not a new private secretary? She really doesn't look like the bag toting, flower gathering type. By the way, I like that flowers are being given on departure. Such a sensible move. anon1

That woman has been at all of Kate's engagements since Catherine Quinn became Kate's private secretary so I'm thinking she could be Catherine Quinn's personal assistant as she is always standing next to her

This is what I meant by more of an equal relationship. And no, I don't think Harry was really bothered by Meghan's enthusiasm. She was adding small details to his description as he talked. That's what people do. I think it was perfect and adorable. Meghan is clearly warm, loving, and gracious. And she's going to treat Harry like a regular person! Good for her.

Love the details on this dress and that she's chosen the accessories to match the burgundy stripe details on the cuffs/around the waist rather than wear her usual black pumps. Like so often, I wish the dress were shorter but it's still a good look overall..

Love love love the look today. She is absolutely glowing and the dress makes her look a million miles tall and gives her an adorable shape with her bump. Lovely statement to the press as well. I love how she is always so cool, calm, and collected.

She looks lovely in that dress and love the heels. No boots, thank goodness. Someone mentioned the interview with Harry and Meghan. He said that they had two dates and then went on a holiday together. He also said they had been dating for 5 months before the news broke, but I recall just this past January their first holiday was to Finland and that was confirmed at the time by KP. There are some other things he said that didn't add up with all the press they'd both been getting, but I don't believe in conspiracy theories, so they're probably nothing. Has anybody else noticed any inconsistencies?

I'm sure they are trying to keep their private life as private as possible, that would explain time & place of events being mixed up etc......what we do know is that it has been a whirlwind romance and they are both very happy & in love xxx

Unbelievable. Did you listen to the interview? Their "holiday" together was a camping trip in a tent! The undertone in the comments is that they slept together right away because they went on a holiday together. This was NOT the impression I got from the interview.

Nobody said anything about sleeping together, and I hadn't even though about it. But now you start the subject.. I do think there was no need to rub in the fact that they are living together or explain so much about their holiday. And if you didn't get that impression from the interview, I have.

According to Judge Judy, LOL, if you tell the truth you don't need a good memory.

As a general comment here, the more people willingly reveal about themselves, the more they're putting out there to be questioned. And the more people will believe they have a right to know. Once again, less is more.

Intended or not, the interview did come across as them trying to justify or explain a relatively short-term courtship leading to their engagement. Ideally, however, we did not need to know all the dating details that were shared, mostly by Meghan. It gave the interview a celebrity quality and, as lovable and normal as Harry is, I suspect that, given a choice, he would not have gone quite that far.

Thought Kate looked great today. Initially, the dress seemed to have an empire "waistline", but then I saw the same dress as part of the Kate Spade Resort Collection, not yet on sale, and I noticed that the hemline of Kate's dress was raised (by her bump) in the front and that the waistband sat at the model's waist. So not at all a maternity dress, but still, a good look.

I also liked what she had to say re Harry and Meghan's engagement.

Mr. Security was on the job today; he seems to be more-or-less steadily working on Kate's detail, which I like. As for the young blonde woman who appeared to accompany Kate, does anyone recall if she's the same woman who was present a few times with Catherine Quinn? If so, I have to wonder if she's in fact Rebecca's replacement and if Catherine Quinn is in some sort of general supervisory position in the KP office, much like Jamie L-P once was.

If my supposition is correct, then this blonde is quite possibly completely inexperienced, just what Kate didn't need.

Please stop putting these ladies down. The “blonde”, as you called her and in this setting makes it so rude BTW, isn’t young. I am looking at her. She clearly is in her 30s. Your dagger of “quite possibly completely inexperienced” is awful. Based on what!?!

And don’t say the “quite possibly” made it OK. Your point was clear, trying to be sneaky about it just makes it worse.

Rebecca Deacon was roughly the same age as William’s private sec. Yet the poor lady was slammed and slammed here. Just awful!

The "blonde" was identified by Victoria Murphy as Laura Baker; she is William's assistant private secretary (possibly also seconded to Kate), who also used to work for the Prince of Wales. She has been with the Cambridges for several years, including their Canada trip last year.

7:28, what would you have her called when nobody knows who she is? The briefcase holder? The not-quite-sure-she's-an-assistant-girl? The chic in the black tights? Stop taking offense when none is intended. It's just idle speculation and quite harmless since this person is never going to read or hear about our silly little conversations. Lighten up, not everything is malicious or even serious.

BTW, I don't know how old you are but I did have to laugh out loud when you took exception to her being called "young" and pointed out that she's "clearly in her 30s." Faith and begorrah, the woman is nearly at death's door!

Young, in this situation, was defined as "completely inexperienced" and that is not someone in their 30s. The whole comment about this lady was a slam. And these attacks against Kate's office staff have been going on forever.

I don't need to lighten up, you all need to grow up. It's so gross, these baseless attacks on hardworking, professional women supported by no evidence. I guess mean girl behavior knows no age limit.

Kate looks fabulous! I love the pattern and colors of this dress and the burgundy shoes and clutch compliment to perfection. The midi length works well on her frame, and Kate Spade always seems to come through with fresh and youthful designs. I'm not sold on her center-parted hair, but she's so lovely the comment is simply splitting hairs (pardon the pun). For me, this is a palate cleanser of an outfit after the too-too Royal Variety Performance gown.

I was pleased she made a statement to the media and, unless I heard it wrong, endearingly began with an informal, "Hi, guys," as she approached the group. She had clearly memorized what she was going to say and her hand gestures and slight hesitation between sentences is relatable to me as a nervous public speaker. Also, it was interesting to learn a bit about the museum. With its art collection and children's charity, it is a natural fit for Kate.

I found this very interesting and wanted to repost it here. It was posted several threads back and last in the comments and I bet many have not read it.

Belle, a poster on this blog, took the transcript of the interview, put it in Word and did a word count of how much Meghan spoke vs. Harry. The results? Meghan said exactly one word more than Harry. One word.

Belle did this because she was studying the concept that women are perceived to be talking more than men even when that is not the case.

It isn't about number of words and who talked more. It's about grace, politeness and appropriate mannerisms. Meghan jumped to answer almost every question first, interrupted often and over-talked Prince Harry multiple times. Attention seeking. Unbecoming. Inappropriate for the situation. Hopefully she'll improve over time.

She reminded me of Sarah Ferguson, who is perhaps a funny, engaging and lovely woman in other settings but who was not an effective royal.

11:33 I re-watched the video just now, and for the most part, they each let the other finish answering the questions they were asked individually. I don't count affirmations such as a laugh or nod or a yes as an interruption (there were plenty on both sides) those are normal in conversation. But here is a list of the times I felt one "talked over" the other:

Meghan"we should protect her privacy""so nicely said""we've had""she's with us"

Harry"I tried to warn you""sing" (he was making a funny)"you've met quite a few of them actually""couple of times""her mom's amazing"

I see the video as a healthy back and forth from two people who are in love and excited to share their story. Neither got perturbed at the other for interrupting. They were in this together, as they will be from now on. I think we can trust 33 year old Harry's decision that she is the one for him.

That's so interesting. Thank you for sharing and to Belle for the research. I don't think Meghan was rude at all. To me, she simply came across as Harry's equal...which she is. Being aware of these subtle biases against women is important. Unfortunately, confident and outspoken women are often viewed, even by other women, as rude. If Meghan did not have grace or was simply in this to gain attention and fame, I'm confident Harry would have surmised that quickly and the relationship would have gone nowhere.

For the record, I followed Diana from Day 1 ... and then "the boys". I am not here to worship Kate as a celebrity; my interest in her is based on her being William's wife and her role in the RF.

Similarly with Meghan, I am not approaching this relationship like a new reality television series. I truly care about Harry's happiness and I will judge her as I do Kate ... as HIS wife and as a member of the Firm.

And, I have been down a similar road before. In her day, Sarah loved Andrew and the electricity between them was obvious to see, but she was caught up in the celebrity aspect of joining the RF. Her exuberance and naivety contributed to her downfall because the bottom line is that fun is fun for a while, but sincerity, loyalty, and a true appreciation of ones role is what wins the race.

In my humble opinion, if Meghan's biggest fans ask her to fulfill the modern, trail blazing role that some of her fans envision, you may just be setting her up for a rather bumpy path. Just MY opinion, but I do base my comments on relevant history.

royalfan, I know what you mean. I hope Meghan doesn't let herself go down the Sarah path. But in her favor, she's well educated, she's had to blaze her own trail in show business which is highly competitive, and she made a nice life for herself those last seven years on her show. So I don't think it will be a Sarah redux. But you are right about what happened to Sarah. I always thought the Queen should have allowed her to go live at the Navy base like she did with Phillip in Malta. I never understand her refusal to do that. I think Sarah would have been a happy Naval wife.

I think (hope) that Meghan's age will be some help as she navigates her new role. Both Diana and Sarah were quite young when they married into the BRF, but Meghan has a bit more life experience under her belt and has the insight gained from a first marriage. I'm not saying that the road will not be bumpy, but Meghan has had her celebrity. She might honestly be ok with settling down into a new chapter at this point in her life and growing into her new position.

No, a bit harsh is comparing people who like Meghan to treating this relationship like a reality TV show. RoyalFan's supreme dislike of Meghan is all over the comments section and she's embarrassing herself.

I'll need to come back at some point and review, but it looks like a few comments have been misconstrued generally and it sounds like this thread is getting pretty heated on both sides. Maybe time for everyone to take a breath or agree to disagree? :)

Jane, I would say that Anonymous 7:51 is the trouble maker here and nobody else. Everyone else has been polite and considerate of others. 7:51 is deliberately making harsh comments.

Here is what Royal Fan said, "Similarly with Meghan, I am not approaching this relationship like a new reality television series."

That comment is not at all denigrating or demeaning or "a bit harsh." This Anon has done this before. The tone of its comments has always been rude and even attacking in tone. The Anon is twisting this into something it is not and we all see that.

But the others are not engaging in any discord in my view. The replies to the Anon are not rude but are spot on.

Thank you, 10:04. I was not planning to respond to this latest comment, but I will to YOU. :-)

You're exactly right, nothing demeaning was intended with my comment "Similarly with Meghan..." I was simply trying to explain that *my* reason for following Kate has to do with WILLIAM and, LIKEWISE, my interest in Meghan has/will have to do with her role as HARRY'S (future) wife and royal partner.

I do have strong opinions, but I also try my best to explain my thought process and where I am coming from. It would be nice if we ALL could have a discussion/debate rather than *personal* attacks that bring nothing to the table. But, as you said, it has happened before, and I suppose it will again. Oh well.

People that like Meghan are not approaching this wedding/marriage/relationship like we are watching a reality TV show. That was RF's slam.

The comments on this blog about MM have gotten so bad that threads had to be shutdown.

I'm not making something here that wasn't. RF also said their courtship was "relatively short", when in fact, it was 1 and 1/2 years. I could go on. My point being, RF's position on MM is very clear and her comments are viewed through that lens. She's even said on here that things don't add up about their courtship and this was after the marriage announcement. So, to think that she meant the reality TV comment in a kind way is preposterous.

We get it, RF. We hear you. But please don't pretend that's not what you meant.

I'm not commenting on this any further out of respect for Jane,her time and dedication to this blog.

8:26, Nothing RoyalFan has written is offensive in any way and certainly not a "slam," as you call it. On the contrary, their posts are polite, insightful and interesting to read. You've got the wrong end of the stick on all of it, whether by accident or design. I think 10:04 has said it best.

Ok, I just reviewed the whole thread. Reading just this thread, and no other comments made by any party elsewhere, it does seem several readers have hesitation about this match. That's allowed. Everyone seems to be expressing any hesitation about Meghan or reflections they have about the interview in a respectful manner, which is the key. The comments on this blog about Meghan have, at times, been shut down, but I don't see that problem here. Discussing the interview is natural, and there are bound to be a range of opinions. I appreciate the contributions that have been made from both sides.

Wow, only Kate has the body and the confidence to wear pleats over her belly while pregnant! Hopefully this dress can be taken in and worn post-pregnancy as well. She looks classic. Do we think there are pearl earrings in there as well? Happy to be back to seeing our duchess again. The H&M news is exciting but, like Jane, I'm happy to move back to our original subject.

I have to admit that I have an enormous curiosity as to what Meghan's wedding dress will look like. I doubt we will see anything traditional. She went sleeveless for her first "royal" interview so I think anything is possible. Just please tell me she'll carry a properly sized bouquet. Those tiny little bouquets were the only things I had to complain about with each of the Middleton brides.

I agree 100%, so glad to get back to Kate. She definitely has the body type (even pregnant) to wear pleats with ease. I haven't worn pleats since middle school!

I really really love the European style smaller bouquets! Much more than our American bouquets that are often too large, too busy and blingy, and such a stark color difference drawing total attention to itself. And worst of all, most brides have too many photographs where they are being held way too stiff and I think the size has something to do with that. Just my thoughts:)

I think CBK's dress worked for the wedding venue they chose--a very tiny primitive wooden church with no electricity. Even if the bride had wanted to have a very small train, there wasn't room for one! While I remember reading her dress started "a fad" in wedding gowns and was pinned alot on pinterest, I can't quite see that style of dress worn successfully in a larger chapel/church by much of anyone. And I'm pretty sure for a CoE ceremony shoulders and upper arms are typically covered--I remember some were surprised by Pippa's relatively bare arms at Kate's wedding.

Not a big fan of Kate’s maternity style in general, but I think she looks flawless today! Love her makeup, her shoes are amazing, and her dress is so flattering! I’m still missing her longer hair though....

Kate looked great. The dress is OK. I am not a big fan, it is a bit too much inexpensive department store look for me. However it is a style that many a pregnant woman finds herself in at this stage of the pregnancy. But for me too much with the pearl buttons, the flowy sleeves, the busy pattern, and the length. Bring it up above the knees and it might have worked better. I do love the burgundy shoes.

Is Kate Spade label inexpensive??? Kate has always mixed up her fashion & labels, I think it's fitting she wears labels & bespoke at various price tags depending on the function always sensitive to the nature of the event.

I agree that Kate has worn cheap looking inexpensive dresses that make us cringe. Like less than $100 or $150. But that's not Kate Spade. KS dresses I am familiar with, start at around $400. Not couture but not crap either. So, I didn't think this dress looked cheap at all.

And I do think it's nice when she throws in an accessible label. Not all the time, but once in a while.

Anon 9:38, no she is not but much of her stuff is pretty reasonable and she has lots of sales. She has shops in mainstay malls across America. I do not care if one spends very little or a ton on items but even reasonably priced clothing can look or actually be well made. Some of Kate Spades items look great, this dress to me is a miss.

Seen a lot of comments on her shorter hair style. I think the problem isn't the length at all, it's the center part. Would look much more flattering with a side part (same as my hair). I hope die catches on soon!

Agreed. I remember reading somewhere once that almost everyone has some degree of asymmetry in their face and that a center part highlits it and thus is why it's considered unflattering except for very beautiful people (who apparently are considered beautiful BECAUSE their face is more symmetrical than most).

People keep mentioning the centre part but I actually don't mind it............I guess she could mix it up a bit?I do like her shorter length which I'm sure is more practical and a time saver with a young family :)

Center part debate... I have never had bangs, ever. So this debate is near and dear to my heart.😂Truth: some people can do center parts and some can't. Even some beautiful people struggle with a center part.

I think at this length and with those fat curls up around her face, Kate looks like Little Bo Peep.

She needs to work with the style and color more. That's what it takes, trial and err. Over and over.

Meghan's hair is amazing but she has had the experience of working with it as part of her job. Yes, it's part of Kate's job too, but hour per hour, MM has much more experience with her hair.

I like this outfit quite a bit. I especially like it with the burgundy-ish shoes & clutch. Nice for fall even though this dress is advertised by KSpade as a spring dress. My one quibble is how high the front hem is compared to the back hem in many photos (not the ones here.) I know it's because of Kate's pregnancy shape and the fact this isn't a maternity dress. While the hem of this dress could not be altered because of the bottom band, if Kate wears non-maternity dresses throughout her pregnancy as she has done before, I hope the hemlines are addressed when it is possible to do so. High hems in front can make the wearer look ungraceful & awkward & I know Kate is not either.

lizzie, I noticed that with the hems, too, especially as I read that even with off the rack dresses she has them tailored to fit her. And I've noticed that this happens even when the hem is one that isn't fixed like this one is. I don't think it's the angle of the lens. It's a mystery! But I wish she'd fix it.

Wow - such heavy makeup for a daytime event! Why does beautiful Kate feel she has to put it on so heavily? Classy dress and shoes. What a Spring it will be - Royal baby in April, Harry's wedding in May. Woven through it all, insane press coverage of Meghan.. Royal watchers will be in heaven...

I felt the same about her make up, it's much heavier than normal for a day event. She is so naturally beautiful and her eye make up was too harsh for her face. Yes what an exciting 2018!!! I hope the press are kind to Meghan during this time leading up to the most exciting time of her life with Harry xx

I also thought her make up was heavier today than usual, but then I saw some photos taken indoors and it looked normal- maybe it was particularly bright/sunny when she arrived? Maybe it was the plum tones she used to match her dress, normally wears greys etc.......she looked very happy, glowing and beautiful x

It is so refreshing to see the Duchess again today. She looked impeccable as usual. Loved the dress, the print, the style, the colors. Loved the pumps! Most of all, I feel like now that she is expecting baby no. 3, she maybe doesn't feel much of a need to dazzle? That's just the vibe I'm getting. Could it be she is still ill at this stage? Anyway, just lovely.

I am often so surprised on this blog. This dress was one of my least favourite's on Catherine. There have been many comments in the past on certain ensembles that look 'mumsy' and I was so sure the general consensus would be that this dress falls into that category. But no, it's mostly loved. So today I am in the minority. I disliked it at first sight. I have had a rethink since all the positive response but I cannot be swayed. However, I don't stress too much when Catherine wears something that I don't like as I truly believe fashion is not a huge focus for her. And her personality always shines through no matter what she wears.~Mo

Just a fashion word here- love the accessories on good ole Kate today. The pop of color jazzes up the dress and gives it a freshness. Much better than black accessories. I like this dress on her. Appropriate and new. Looks comfy too for our little baby bump. Maybe this time next year, Meghan will be sporting a similar look. Sorry, I just couldn't help myself. A baby Sussex next year???? Ahh the insanity!!!!

Connect

Search The Site

Featured Post

The Duchess of Cambridge at Kensington Palace, Feb. 17, 2016 A number of you have reached out to me via social media expressing confusi...

Welcome!

Welcome to the blog! I am Jane Barr and I write From Berkshire to Buckingham. I am an American Anglophile-Francophile (Yes, they can co-exist. :)) I have been following Kate since she began dating William at St Andrews. I began the blog in my favorite Starbucks while living in Los Angeles, CA, just before William and Kate married. See my Welcome page (in the navigation bar) for more about the blog, and follow me on Twitter (@princesskate_GB) and Instagram (@fromberkshiretobuckingham) for more of my royal content.